Ira D. Hudgins
FRANKLIN—The Rev. Ira Durwood Hudgins, D.D., 91, died April 28, 2009, in Franklin, where he served as pastor of Franklin Baptist Church for 32 years.
He was born in Washington, D.C., son of Robert L. and Fanny Williams Hudgins.
Following graduation from high school he attended and received degrees from the University of Richmond, Crozer Theological Seminary, and the University of Pennsylvania.
He engaged in additional graduate work at American University and attended summer institutes at Princeton University, St. Andrews University, Scotland, Regents Park, Oxford University, and the University of Uppsula, Sweden.
He was honored with a Doctor of Divinity degree by the University of Richmond in 1965.
Following his graduation from Crozer he enlisted as an Army chaplain during World War II, serving in the Philippines campaign and in occupation duty in Japan.
Following the war he served two brief pastorates in Leesburg and in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. In 1951 he accepted a call from the Franklin Baptist Church where he served until his retirement in 1983.
He served as president of the Franklin PTA, the Franklin/Southampton Drug Focus Committee, Chairman of the Western Tidewater Mental Health Board, and on the Executive Committee of the Old Dominion Area Boy Scout Council.
He helped organize and served as an advisor for the High Street Senior Citizens Group and the Franklin A.A. group.
He was moderator of the Blackwater Baptist Association and on the Chowan College Endowment Committee.
He taught several Bible courses both at Chowan and Paul D. Camp Community College. He was an active member of the Franklin Rotary Club.
Dr. Hudgins served his denomination both in the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Southern Baptist Convention.
He served on the Virginia Baptist Board of Missions and Education and on the boards of the Religious Herald, the Baptist Children’s Home, the University of Richmond and the Virginia Baptist Historical Society.
He was on the Southern Baptist Annuity Board and the Radio and Television Commission.
He also served on both the Crozer Theological Seminary and Colgate-Rochester Seminary Boards.
The Rev. Hudgins was a member of the SAE college fraternity, the Franklin Masonic Lodge, American Legion, the Cypress Cove Country Club, the Virginia Historical Society and the Southampton Historical Society.
After his retirement, Dr. Hudgins served church mission tours in Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
He also served as interim pastor for the Colosse, Windsor, Central Hill, West End, Suffolk, Courtland, and Millfield Baptist and Hunterdale Christian churches in Virginia and Murfreesboro Baptist in North Carolina.
He also completed a history of the Franklin Baptist Church, Generation to Generation.
Dr. Hudgins, a dedicated supporter of Boy Scouting, received the Order of the Arrow and Silver Beaver Awards and taught God and Country classes throughout the years of his ministry.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Janet Carter Hudgins; his sons Carter and wife Donna of Fredericksburg, Stephen and wife Susan of Richmond, David and wife Ann of Alexandria and Jonathan and wife Robin of Lorton; one sister and a brother, Dorothy Boarman and James Hudgins; and nine grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his sister, Helen Russell, and three brothers, Ronald, Edward and Wilburn Hudgins.
The family will receive friends at their home in Franklin today from 7 to 9 p.m.
A memorial service will be held at Franklin Baptist Church on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Franklin Baptist Church.
Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, is assisting the family.
Condolences may be offered at www.wrightfuneralhome.org.